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MILs Turn Sons’ Weddings Into Bridal Showdowns, Leave Guests Speechless
Groomu2019s mom in a wedding dress with pearl necklace holding hands, highlighting wedding dress sleeve details.
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MILs Turn Sons’ Weddings Into Bridal Showdowns, Leave Guests Speechless

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The wedding ceremony is a momentous occasion for the bride and groom. It’s a day they should be cherishing forever as they celebrate a milestone moment in their lives.

Ideally, the focus should be solely on the couple, not on anyone else. But as you will read in the twostories below, the groom’s mom can sometimes steal the spotlight and ruin what could’ve been a memorable day. 

In both instances, the entitled mothers showed up at the ceremony looking like they were about to walk down the aisle. Read through and see whether you feel disappointment or secondhand embarrassment first. 

RELATED:

    The last thing anyone wants during their wedding is for someone to cause a scene

    Groom’s mom in a wedding dress with pearl necklace, holding a man's hand, attending a wedding event indoors.

    Image credits: Pressmaster / Envato (not the actual photo)

    In this first story, a mom proudly attended her son’s wedding wearing a white, floor-length gown with a veil

    Groom’s mom in a white wedding dress with sleeves disrupts the couple’s big day by upstaging the bride.

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    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress with sleeves, causing a scene and overshadowing the couple’s big day.

    Bride and groom react with shock as groom’s mom shows up in a wedding dress, stealing attention on the couple’s big day.

    Text excerpt from wedding incident showing groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress with more sleeves causing disruption.

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    Bride in wedding dress sitting with head in hands next to a bouquet, reflecting a ruined couple’s big day moment.

    Image credits: Wavebreakmedia / Envato (not the actual photo)

    The entitled mom continued her antics during the reception

    Groom’s mom in a wedding dress disrupts ceremony, hovering near bride and adjusting her train during the big day.

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    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress at the reception, catching the bouquet and shouting during the big day celebration.

    Groom’s mom causes wedding drama by wearing a wedding dress with more sleeves, overshadowing the couple’s big day.

    Image credits: CodPhysical6308

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    Conflict between the parents and the couple is usually rooted in “unspoken assumptions”

    In that first story, the mom felt it would be completely fine to wear what could easily be mistaken as a wedding dress. She believed she wasn’t doing anything wrong because her dress had “more sleeves” on it. She also thought it was acceptable to act as if it were her big day. 

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    These “unspoken assumptions” are a leading cause of conflict between parents and the soon-to-be newlyweds, according to professional bridal coach Kara Ghassabeh

    “To each person, ‘the right thing’ seems so obvious, they don’t realize it needs a conversation until after feelings are hurt. It’s the unexpected emotions that underpin these choices and fuel conflict,” Ghassabeh told Brides, adding that parents often underestimate how much their presence and identity are tied to the ceremony. 

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

    It wasn’t clear in either story whether the mothers of the groom provided any form of financial support. But if it were the case, whoever paid for the wedding may feel a sense of entitlement, like they have the upper hand. 

    “When parents are paying, they often feel like parents, wanting to give advice and make decisions like they have throughout their kids’ childhood,” etiquette expert Diane Gottsman said in the same Brides interview.  

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    People in the comments didn’t hold back with their reactions, some pointing to a possible mental illness

    Screenshot of an online comment thread discussing how the groom’s mom showing up in a wedding dress ruined the couple’s big day.

    Online discussion about backyard weddings and the groom’s mom showing up in a wedding dress ruining the big day

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    Alt text: Groom’s mom attends wedding wearing a white dress, causing drama and upsetting the couple on their big day.

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    Comment criticizing bride’s friends after groom’s mom shows up in wedding dress, causing wedding day drama.

    Comment discussing confusion about the phrase more sleeves in the context of groom’s mom at wedding.

    Comment on a wedding dress drama where the groom’s mom showed up, causing tension and ruining the couple’s big day.

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    Comment on a forum post about groom’s mom showing up in a wedding dress, hinting at her ruining the couple’s big day.

    Comment on forum discussing groom’s mom showing up in wedding dress, causing disruption on the couple’s big day.

    Comment discussing a woman embarrassing herself at a wedding, related to groom’s mom in a wedding dress controversy.

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    Comment on Reddit suggesting a prank where multiple people ask the groom’s mom if she’s the bride to highlight her wedding dress mistake.

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    Comment from user DottedUnicorn discussing a groom’s mom showing up in a wedding dress and disrupting the event.

    Woman wearing a wedding dress with long sleeves, highlighted as groom’s mom, causing wedding day disruption.

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    Comment in bold black text reacting negatively to a wedding guest, discussing the groom’s mom showing up in a wedding dress and ruining the couple’s big day.

    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress with many sleeves, overshadowing the couple on their big day.

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    Groom’s mom in a wedding dress with more sleeves, causing tension and disrupting the couple’s big day celebration.

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    Bride adjusting satin bow on lace wedding dress with close-up detail, highlighting wedding dress and sleeves design.

    Image credits: Tom Pumford / Unsplash / (not the actual photo)

    The same thing happened in story number two, but here, the mom insisted it was their family “tradition” 

    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress at the ceremony, causing tension and ruining the couple’s big day tradition.

    Groom’s mom wearing a full-length white wedding dress with lace sleeves disrupts the couple’s big day.

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    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress at the ceremony, causing controversy and ruining the couple’s big day celebration.

    Bride’s face freezes mid-smile as groom’s mom shows up in wedding dress, creating awkward moment on couple’s big day.

    Groom’s mom in a wedding dress with sleeves holding a bouquet, standing next to the groom at a wedding ceremony.

    Image credits: Alexander Mass / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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    Seemingly not content with her actions at the ceremony, she went on to impose her presence at the reception

    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress disrupts the ceremony by standing next to bride and groom during vows.

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    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress and causing a scene, overshadowing the couple’s big day with more sleeves.

    Alt text: Groom’s mom causes drama by wearing a wedding dress and overshadowing the couple’s big day with more sleeves.

    Image credits: CompanyMediocre2436

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    Approaching the situation with empathy and calmness ensures the day isn’t ruined

    If you’re in the same tough spot as the couples in both stories, flipping out may be an instinctive response. However, such a reaction could ruin a day you’ve both been looking forward to. 

    This is why responding calmly with empathy would be the best way to go, according to psychologist and marriage specialist Bonnie Maslin, Ph.D

    “Don’t act in kind but in kindness. You can’t go wrong with empathy,” Maslin said in an interview with Glamour

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Some people may also avoid confronting the erring person out of fear of escalating the situation. However, Maslin says the opposite is true. According to her, allowing the individual to say their piece on why they were acting the way they were may help avoid a worse episode fueled by alcohol later in the night. 

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    Neither story indicated how the couples reacted, but hopefully, they were able to take things in stride without allowing the moment to ruin their day. 

    As expected, commenters weren’t pleased, as some shared similar experiences

    Comment suggesting wearing a wedding dress to every event in response to groom’s mom showing up in wedding dress.

    Commenters discuss groom’s reaction and marriage status after groom’s mom shows up in wedding dress, ruining couple’s wedding day.

    Groom’s mom in a wedding dress with more sleeves, causing tension at the couple’s wedding day event.

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    Groom’s mom shows up in wedding dress with more sleeves, causing drama and ruining the couple’s big day celebration.

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    Comment about groom’s mom showing up in wedding dress, disrupting couple’s big day with more sleeves.

    Comment discussing a family tradition of publicly shaming anyone who wears a wedding dress to someone else’s wedding.

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    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress with more sleeves, causing a disruption at the couple’s big day celebration.

    Groom’s mom wearing a wedding dress with long sleeves, standing in a wedding venue, overshadowing the couple’s special day.

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    Poll Question

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    Read less »

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    What do you think ?
    Paul C
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't this exactly what bridesmaids with glasses of red wine are for????

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Mine has more sleeves."? How many arms do you have, lady?

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The plural is mothers-in-law. One presumes the fathers-in-law weren't there to tell them they were being psychotic.

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably divorced the harpies years ago.

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    Paul C
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't this exactly what bridesmaids with glasses of red wine are for????

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Mine has more sleeves."? How many arms do you have, lady?

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The plural is mothers-in-law. One presumes the fathers-in-law weren't there to tell them they were being psychotic.

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably divorced the harpies years ago.

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